“Donald, again, is using words that he doesn’t understand,” Ventura said. “Socialism and communism are two different things. You need socialism to have a safety net. And we all agree there should be a safety net out there for people to get on their feet and become productive citizens.”

Trump called Sanders a “socialist-slash-communist” during an appearance in Virginia last month, telling supporters that he was “gonna tax you people at 90 percent.”

That kind of attack, Ventura argued, has roots in American fears dating back to the Cold War.

“We were so entrenched with the Cold War and the threat of all of us becoming communists,” he said. “It’s clear today — it shows me you need capitalism and you need socialism both. The big key is finding out at what level you need each to make it work right.”

About the Author

Arturo R. García is the managing editor at Racialicious.com. He is based in San Diego, California and has written for both print and broadcast media, including contributions to GlobalComment.com, The Root and Comment Is Free. Follow him on Twitter at @ABoyNamedArt